Load terminal with conductive tang for use in a circuit breaker

ABSTRACT

A load conductor for use with a circuit breaker includes a load terminal and a conductive tang engaged with one another. The load terminal is manufactured out of a first material having a first electrical conductivity, and the tang is manufactured out of a second material having a second electrical conductivity. The first electrical conductivity of the first material is such that the load terminal remains at a desirably high temperature during operation of the circuit breaker to avoid interference with the function of a bimetallic strip mounted on the load terminal. The tang extends across a bend formed in the load terminal to avoid the bend from becoming undesirably hot during operation of the circuit breaker. The tang also provides additional conductive cross-section and a higher conductivity surface to reduce the temperature of the load terminal in the vicinity of the clamped joint between the load terminal and the load. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to circuit breakers and,more particularly, to a load conductor of a circuit breaker.Specifically, the invention relates to a load conductor employing a loadterminal and a conductive tang connected therewith, the tang enhancingthe electrical conductivity of the load terminal.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Numerous types of circuit breakers are known and understood inthe relevant art. Among the purposes for which circuit breakers areprovided is to interrupt electrical current on command or under certaindefined circumstances. Generally stated, most circuit breakers include aline conductor connected with a power source and a load conductorconnected with an electrical load, and further include a currentinterruption system interposed between the line conductor and the loadconductor to interrupt current as needed. The current interruptionsystem typically includes an operating mechanism that separates a set ofseparable electrical contacts to interrupt current from flowingtherethrough, and further includes a trip unit operatively connectedwith the operating mechanism. The trip unit triggers the operatingmechanism to separate the electrical contacts during the specifiedovercurrent, under-voltage, or other condition. In multi-phase circuitbreakers, the operating mechanism typically includes a crossbar thatsimultaneously separates several sets of separable contacts tosimultaneously interrupt current through all of the phases of thecircuit breaker.

[0005] The trip unit typically includes one or more types of trippingmechanisms that are each able to trigger the operating mechanism tointerrupt the current under specified conditions. One type of tripmechanism is a thermal trip that includes a bimetallic strip employingat least two layers of metal having different coefficients of thermalconductivity, with the bimetallic strip deflecting and triggering theoperating mechanism under certain overcurrent conditions that last for acertain duration of time. Such bimetallic strips rely upon heatgenerated due to the electrical resistance of the bimetallic strip andof other components of the circuit breaker to the current flowingthrough the circuit breaker during operation thereof. Other types oftripping mechanisms include magnetic trip mechanisms, blow-open tripmechanisms, and manual trip mechanisms, as well as other tripmechanisms.

[0006] Further regarding thermal trip mechanisms, depending upon theconfiguration of the bimetallic strip and of the circuit breaker as awhole, it typically is desirable to avoid contacting the bimetallicstrip with other conductors that are at relatively low temperatures inorder to avoid the heat generated within the bimetallic strip from beingshunted away to the relatively lower temperature component. In thisregard, it has thus been known to manufacture out of stainless steel orother such material a load terminal to which the bimetallic strip ismounted. The stainless steel generates a given amount of heat duringoperation of the circuit breaker, thus maintaining the load terminal ata relatively high temperature and likewise resisting the shunting ofheat from within the bimetallic strip to the load terminal.

[0007] Due to size limitations of some circuit breakers, it may also bedesirable to augment the heat generated by electrical resistance withinthe metallic strip with heat that is generated by electrical resistancewithin other components of the circuit breaker that are in thermallyconductive engagement with the bimetallic strip, such as the loadterminal. In such applications the load terminal is specificallyconfigured to conduct heat due to electrical resistance therein to thebimetallic strip.

[0008] The use of such relatively resistive load terminals has not,however, been without limitation. Depending upon the configuration ofthe circuit breaker, many load terminals are formed with a right anglebend in order to permit the electrical load to be connected with theload terminal. The bend in such a load terminal often has a tendency tobecome unduly hot during operation of the circuit breaker.

[0009] It has also been observed that clamped joints (such as theclamped joint between the load terminal and the load) become unduly hotduring operation of the circuit breaker due to imperfections in thecontacting surfaces of the components being clamped and for otherreasons. During high fault conditions, therefore, portions of the loadterminal that are adjacent such clamped joints can become fused to theload or may result in loss of the material of the load terminal or otherundesirable circumstances. Nevertheless, it is still desired to maintainthe load terminal at a certain elevated temperature during operation ofthe circuit breaker to avoid interference with the function of thebimetallic strip by failing to conduct heat thereto or by shunting heattherefrom.

[0010] It is thus desired to provide an improved load conductor for acircuit breaker that generates a desirable amount of heat due toelectrical resistance during operation of the circuit breaker, yet thatis generally not susceptible of fusing or other failure during highfault conditions of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In view of the foregoing, a load conductor for use with a circuitbreaker includes a load terminal and a conductive tang electricallyengaged with one another. The load terminal is manufactured out of afirst material having a first electrical conductivity, and the tang ismanufactured out of a second material having a second electricalconductivity. The first electrical conductivity of the first material issuch that the load terminal remains at a desirably high temperatureduring operation of the circuit breaker to avoid interference with thefunction of a bimetallic strip mounted on the load terminal. The tangextends across a bend formed in the load terminal to avoid the bend frombecoming undesirably hot during operation of the circuit breaker. Thetang also provides additional conductive cross-section and a higherconductivity surface to reduce the temperature of the load terminal inthe vicinity of the clamped joint between the load terminal and theload.

[0012] An objective of the present invention is to provide a loadconductor for a circuit breaker in which a load terminal of the loadconductor maintains a desirably high temperature during operation of thecircuit breaker.

[0013] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a loadconductor for a circuit breaker in which a bend formed in a loadterminal of the load conductor does not become undesirably hot duringoperation of the circuit breaker.

[0014] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a loadconductor for a circuit breaker in which the load conductor isadvantageously configured to avoid interference with the operation of abimetallic strip mounted on the load conductor.

[0015] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a loadconductor for a circuit breaker in which the load conductor isadvantageously configured to reduce the temperatures of the loadconductor at the clamped joint between the load conductor and the load.

[0016] Another objective of the present invention is to provide acircuit breaker having a load conductor that does not interfere with thefunction of a thermal trip mechanism of the circuit breaker, with theload conductor being substantially immune to fusing with the load duringhigh fault conditions.

[0017] An aspect of the present invention is thus to provide a tang forconductive engagement with a load terminal of a circuit breaker, inwhich the load terminal is made out of a first material having a firstelectrical conductivity, and in which the load terminal includes anextension portion and a connection portion and is formed with a bendinterposed between the extension and connection portions, with thecircuit breaker including a thermal trip mechanism connected with theload terminal, and the load terminal being structured to conduct heatdue to electrical resistance to the thermal trip mechanism duringoperation of the circuit breaker, in which the general nature of thetang can be stated as including a first member and a second memberconnected with one another. The first and second members are eachsubstantially planar and are non-parallel with one another, with thefirst and second members being formed of a second material having asecond electrical conductivity. The first member is structured to beelectrically conductively engaged with the extension portion of the loadterminal, and the second member is structured to be electricallyconductively engaged with the connection portion of the load terminal.

[0018] The second electrical conductivity may be greater than the firstelectrical conductivity.

[0019] The extension and connection portions of the load terminal may beoriented at a given angle with respect to one another, with the firstand second members being oriented with respect to one another at thegiven angle.

[0020] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a loadconductor for use with a circuit breaker, in which the circuit breakerincludes a thermal trip mechanism that is structured to be connectedwith the load conductor, with the load conductor being structured toconduct heat due to electrical resistance to the thermal trip mechanismduring operation of the circuit breaker, in which the general nature ofthe load conductor can be stated as including a load terminal and atang. The load terminal includes an extension portion and a connectionportion and is formed with a bend interposed between the extension andconnection portions. The tang includes a first member and a secondmember connected with one another. The first member is electricallyconductively engaged with the extension portion, and the second memberis electrically conductively engaged with the connection portion. Thetang extends less than fully along the extension portion of the loadterminal.

[0021] Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide acircuit breaker, the general nature of which can be stated as includinga line conductor, a load conductor, and a thermal trip mechanismconnected with the load conductor, the load conductor including a loadterminal and a tang. The load terminal includes an extension portion anda connection portion and is formed with a bend interposed between theextension and connection portions. The tang includes a first member anda second member connected with one another, with the first member beingelectrically conductively engaged with the extension portion, and withthe second member being electrically conductively engaged with theconnection portion. The load terminal is structured to conduct heat dueto electrical resistance to the thermal trip mechanism during operationof the circuit breaker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] A further understanding of the invention can be gained from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a load conductor in accordancewith the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a cut away side view of a circuit breaker thatincorporates the load conductor of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, except showing the loadconductor of the present invention exploded; and

[0026]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, except showing the explodedload conductor of the present invention from a different angle.

[0027] Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout thespecification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] A load conductor 4 in accordance with the present invention isindicated generally in FIGS. 1-4. The load conductor 4 can be employedin a circuit breaker 8 of the type indicated generally in FIG. 2,although the load conductor 4 can be employed in other types of circuitbreakers without departing from the concept of the present invention.

[0029] Broadly stated, the circuit breaker 8 includes a case 10 in whichthe load conductor 4 is mounted, with the case 10 additionally carryinga line conductor 12 and a current interruption system 16 operativelyinterposed between the line conductor 12 and the load conductor 4. Againbroadly stated, the current interruption system 16 includes a cradle 20formed with a ledge 24 against which a latch 28 is disposed duringoperation of the circuit breaker 8, whereupon removal of the latch 28from the ledge 24 results in release of the cradle 20. Release of thecradle 20 causes the pivoting of a movable arm 32 which pivots a movablecontact 36 that is disposed thereon out of electrical engagement with astationary contact 40 mounted on the line conductor 12.

[0030] Among other types of trip mechanisms, the circuit breaker 8includes a thermal trip mechanism having a bimetallic member 44. As isknown in the relevant art, the bimetallic member 44 includes at leasttwo layers of materials, at least one of which is conductive, havingdifferent coefficients of thermal expansion such that the bimetallicmember 44 deflects in response to heating from the conduction of currenttherethrough in a known fashion. The bimetallic member 44 iselectrically connected with the movable arm 32 by a flexible conductor48 extending therebetween. The bimetallic member 44 includes a fixed end52 that is mounted on the load conductor 4 and further includes anadjustable protrusion 56 extending outwardly from the bimetallic member44 near a free end 60 that is opposite the fixed end 52. During anovercurrent condition of sufficient duration, the bimetallic member 44deflects in the aforementioned known fashion to operatively engage theprotrusion 56 with an actuation member 64 upon which the latch 28 ismounted. Upon sufficient deflection of the bimetallic member 44, theactuation member 64 is moved sufficiently to disengage the latch 28 fromthe ledge 24 and trigger the cradle 20 to trip the circuit breaker 8 andinterrupt current therethrough.

[0031] In order to avoid interfering with the desirable deflection ofthe bimetallic member 44, the load conductor 4 advantageously includes aload terminal 68 and a conductive tang 72 engaged with one another. Theload terminal 68 is manufactured out of a first material having a firstelectrical conductivity. The tang 72 is manufactured out of a secondmaterial having a second electrical conductivity. The first and secondmaterials, as well as the first and second electrical conductivities,are different, although in other configurations the first and secondmaterials and/or the first and second electrical conductivities may bethe same without departing from the concept of the present invention.Moreover, while in the embodiment of the load conductor 4 depictedherein the first material is stainless steel and the second material iscopper, it is likewise understood that other materials may be employedfor either or both of the first and second materials without departingfrom the concept of the present invention.

[0032] The load terminal 68 includes an extension portion 76 and aconnection portion 80 that are connected with one another via a bend 84formed in the load terminal 68, with the load terminal 68 additionallyincluding a connection plate 88 that is substantially parallel with butoffset from the extension portion 76. As is best shown in FIG. 2, thefixed end 52 of the bimetallic member 44 is mounted on and is bothelectrically and thermally conductively connected with the connectionplate 88 of the load terminal 68.

[0033] The extension portion 76 includes a pair of arms 92 that protrudeoutwardly at an angle therefrom for purposes to be set forth more fullybelow. The extension portion 76 additionally includes a generally planarfirst mounting surface 96.

[0034] The connection portion 80 is formed with a terminal connectorhole 100 that is substantially circular in cross section andadditionally includes a substantially planar second mounting surface104. The first and second mounting surfaces 96 and 104 are depicted asbeing substantially perpendicular to one another, although in otherconfigurations the first and second mounting surfaces 96 and 104 may beoriented at other angles with respect to one another without departingfrom the concept of the present invention.

[0035] The tang 72 includes a first member 108 and a second member 112that are connected with one another via a transition section 116. Whilethe transition section 116 is depicted herein as being a right anglebend, it is understood that in other embodiments the transition section116 may be of other configuration without departing from the concept ofthe present invention.

[0036] The first member 108 is configured with a pair of ears 120 thatextend outwardly therefrom in opposite directions in order to correspondwith the shape of the extension portion 76. The ears 120 may be absentfrom other configurations of the tang 72 without departing from theconcept of the present invention. The first member 108 additionallyincludes a substantially planar first connection surface 124 (FIG. 4)formed thereon.

[0037] The second member 112 is formed with a tang connector hole 128extending therethrough that is of a substantially circular crosssection. The second member 112 additionally includes a substantiallyplanar second connection surface 132 (FIG. 4).

[0038] It can also be seen that the tang 72 is formed with an elongatedretention hole 136 disposed approximately at the point of connectionbetween the second member 112 and the transition section 116. Theretention hole 136 extends substantially through the tang 72 and isconfigured to receive a tab of a retention clip 140 (FIG. 2) thatretains the load conductor 4 in a desired position on the case 10. Morespecifically, the retention clip 140 is an angled member extendingbetween an overhanging surface 144 formed on the case 10 and the tang 72to engage the load conductor 4 against an abutment surface 148 formed onthe case 10. While the retention clip 140 retains the load conductor 4on the case 10 in the position depicted generally in FIG. 2, it isunderstood that the load conductor 4 can be retained in the positiondepicted in FIG. 2 by other means without departing from the concept ofthe present invention.

[0039] As is best shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the load conductor 4extends through a slot 152 formed in the case 10. Specifically, theextension portion 76 of the load terminal 68 and the first member 108 ofthe tang 72 extend through the slot 152. In this regard the slot 152 issized to receive therein both the extension portion 76 and the firstmember 108, although it can be seen that the first member 108 extendsalong only a portion of the extension portion 76. The arms 92 are thusprovided to be disposed against one of the walls of the slot 152 toretain the extension portion 76 therein with minimal slippage. While aseparate shim may be employed within the slot 152 in the place of thearms 92 to retain the extension portion 76 therein with minimal slack,the arms 92 advantageously perform the retention function without theneed for an additional part for such purpose.

[0040] As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the load terminal 68 and thetang 72 are engaged against one another to form the load conductor 4 ofthe circuit breaker 8. In this regard, the first connection surface 124is received against the first mounting surface 96, and the secondconnection surface 132 is received against the second mounting surface104. As such, the first member 108 is conductively engaged with theextension portion 76, and the second member 112 is conductively engagedwith the connection portion 80.

[0041] The load terminal 68 and the tang 72 are depicted in FIGS. 1-4 asbeing connected with one another in such a fashion that current canfreely flow therebetween. The load terminal 68 and the tang 72 arefastened to one another with a bond (not shown in FIG. 1 for purposes ofclarity) formed between the load terminal 68 and the tang 72 by knownmethods such as brazing, soldering, and other types of bonding.Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a fastener may extend between theload terminal 68 and the tang 72. Such an appropriate fastener wouldinclude a rivet, a screw, a pin, or any other type of appropriatefastener. Other structures and/or methods may be employed to fasten theload terminal 68 and the tang 72 with one another without departing fromthe concept of the present invention. Moreover, the load terminal 68 andtang 72 may be conductively connected with one another but unfastenedwith one another depending upon the specific needs of the particularapplication,

[0042] By electrically conductively engaging the tang 72 with the loadterminal 68 on opposite sides of the bend 84, the tang 72 provides anadditional conductor by which current can flow from the extensionportion 76 to the connection portion 80 without having to flow throughthe bend 84, thus reducing the temperature of the bend 84. The tang 72also functions as a shunt which conducts or shunts current from theextension portion 76 directly to the load (not shown.) If the tang 72 ismade of a material having a higher electrical conductivity than that ofthe load terminal 68, the tang provides a more highly conductive surfacefor the clamp joint with the load than if the load were connecteddirectly to the load terminal 68. The temperature of the load conductor4 is thus reduced at the clamp joint, which reduces the likelihood ofthe load conductor 4 fusing with the load or loss of the material of theload conductor. Additionally, the tang 72 is thermally conductivelyengaged with the load terminal 68 whereby the tang 72 can conduct heataway from the load conductor 68 on opposite sides of the bend 84.

[0043] As such, the conductive engagement of the tang 72 with the loadterminal 68 reduces the operating temperature of the bend 84 and of theclamp joint with the load below what they would ordinarily be in theabsence of the tang 72. The reduction in the temperature of the bend 84and at the clamp joint likewise advantageously reduces the temperatureof the connection portion 80 and lessens the likelihood of loss of thematerial of the connection portion 80 during high fault conditions.

[0044] As is depicted in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the second member 112 isdepicted as including a pair of small shelves 156 formed on oppositesides thereof. The shelves 156 facilitate the use of certain types ofcollars (not shown) for connecting the load with the load conductor 4.In other embodiments (not shown) the second member 112 may be formedwithout the shelves 156 or may be formed with other structures withoutdeparting from the concept of the present invention.

[0045] In use, the terminal connector hole 100 and tang connector hole128 are axially aligned, and the conductor (not shown) that extends tothe load (not shown) is electrically engaged with the outer surface ofthe second member 112 that is opposite the second connection surface132. In this regard, an appropriate collar or other connector may beemployed to more securely engage the conductor with the second member112. Such collars typically include a threaded screw (not shown) orother such device that can extend through the combined opening formed bythe terminal connector hole 100 and the tang connector hole 128 tosecurely engage the conductor that is connected with the load to thesecond member 112. In this regard, the tang 72 further advantageouslyresists the load terminal 68 from becoming fused with the conductorconnected with the load by interposing the second member 112 between theload terminal 68 and the conductor.

[0046] Despite the temperature reduction in the bend 84 that is achievedby engaging the tang 72 with the load terminal 68 as indicated above,the portion of the load terminal 68 that is not engaged against the tang72 remains substantially at the temperature at which it would operate inthe absence of the tang 72. In this regard, it can be seen from FIGS.1-4 that the tang 72 advantageously extends less than fully along theload terminal 68. More specifically, the first member 108 extends onlyalong a portion of the extension portion 76. It can thus be seen thatthe tang 72 enhances the electrical conductivity of the load terminal 68along the areas of contact therewith, but does not enhance theelectrical conductivity in other areas of the load terminal 68. As such,the tang 72 does not meaningfully reduce the temperature of theconnection plate 88 to which the bimetallic member 44 is mounted andthus does not interfere with the function of the bimetallic member 44 bycausing heat to be drawn away from it and into the load conductor 4.Moreover, if the circuit breaker 8 is configured such that heat is to beconducted from the load terminal 68 into the bimetallic member 44, thetang 72 can be accordingly configured to itself avoid drawing heat awayfrom the extension portion 76. As such, the tang 72 advantageouslyavoids interference with the function of the bimetallic member 44 by notreducing the temperature of the load terminal 68 in such a way that theload terminal 68 might fail to conduct appropriate heat to thebimetallic member 44 during operation of the circuit breaker 4.

[0047] The tang 72, when combined with the load terminal 68, thusadvantageously forms the load conductor 4 that can be used in thecircuit breaker 8. The tang 72 reduces the temperature of the bend 84 ofthe load terminal 68 and that of the clamp joint with the load and doesnot interfere with the function of the bimetallic member 44, either byundesirably shunting heat away from the bimetallic member 44 or byundesirably failing to conduct heat to the bimetallic member 44,depending upon the configuration of the circuit breaker 8. As such,while the tang 72 is depicted as extending substantially along the fullextent of the connection portion 80 but extending only along a portionof the extension portion 76, it is understood that in other embodimentsof the load conductor 4 the tang 72 may be of other configurations thatextend to a greater or lesser extent along the extension portion 76 orthe connection portion 80 without departing from the concept of thepresent invention.

[0048] While a particular embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed herein, it is understood that various changes, additions,modifications, and adaptations may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tang for conductive engagement with a loadterminal of a circuit breaker, the load terminal being made out of afirst material having a first electrical conductivity, the load terminalincluding an extension portion and a connection portion and being formedwith a bend interposed between the extension and connection portions,the circuit breaker including a thermal trip mechanism connected withthe load terminal, the load terminal being structured to conduct heatdue to electrical resistance to the thermal trip mechanism duringoperation of the circuit breaker, the tang comprising: a first memberand a second member connected with one another, the first and secondmembers each being substantially planar and being non-parallel with oneanother, the first and second members being formed of a second materialhaving a second electrical conductivity, the first member beingstructured to be electrically conductively engaged with the extensionportion of the load terminal, and the second member being structured tobe electrically conductively engaged with the connection portion of theload terminal.
 2. The tang as set forth in claim 1, in which the secondelectrical conductivity is greater than the first electricalconductivity.
 3. The tang as set forth in claim 1, in which theextension and connection portions of the load terminal are oriented at agiven angle with respect to one another, and in which the first andsecond members are oriented with respect to one another at the givenangle.
 4. The tang as set forth in claim 1, in which the second materialis copper.
 5. A load conductor for use with a circuit breaker, thecircuit breaker including a thermal trip mechanism structured to beconnected with the load conductor, the load conductor being structuredto conduct heat due to electrical resistance to the thermal tripmechanism during operation of the circuit breaker, the load conductorcomprising: a load terminal including an extension portion and aconnection portion and being formed with a bend interposed between theextension and connection portions; and a tang including a first memberand a second member connected with one another, the first member beingelectrically conductively engaged with the extension portion, and thesecond member being electrically conductively engaged with theconnection portion.
 6. The load conductor as set forth in claim 5, inwhich the load terminal is made out of a first material having a firstelectrical conductivity, and in which the tang is made out of a secondmaterial having a second electrical conductivity, the second electricalconductivity being greater than the first electrical conductivity. 7.The load conductor as set forth in claim 5, in which the extensionportion is formed with a substantially planar first mounting surface andthe connection portion is formed with a substantially planar secondmounting surface, and in which the first member is formed with asubstantially planar first connection surface and the second member isformed with a substantially planar second connection surface, the firstmounting surface being electrically conductively disposed against thefirst connection surface, and the second mounting surface beingelectrically conductively disposed against the second connection surface8. The load conductor as set forth in claim 7, in which the first andsecond mounting surfaces are non-parallel with one another,
 9. The loadconductor as set forth in claim 5, in which the tang and the loadterminal are fastened with one another.
 10. The load conductor as setforth in claim 5, in which the first material is stainless steel and inwhich the second material is copper.
 11. The load conductor as set forthin claim 5, in which the tang extends less than fully along theextension portion of the load terminal.
 12. A circuit breakercomprising: a line conductor; a load conductor; and a thermal tripmechanism connected with the load conductor; the load conductorincluding a load terminal and a tang; the load terminal including anextension portion and a connection portion and being formed with a bendinterposed between the extension and connection portions; the tangincluding a first member and a second member connected with one another,the first member being electrically conductively engaged with theextension portion, and the second member being electrically conductivelyengaged with the connection portion; and the load terminal beingstructured to conduct heat due to electrical resistance to the thermaltrip mechanism during operation of the circuit breaker.
 13. The circuitbreaker as set forth in claim 12, in which the load terminal is made outof a first material having a first electrical conductivity, and in whichthe tang is made out of a second material having a second electricalconductivity, the second electrical conductivity being greater than thefirst electrical conductivity.
 14. The circuit breaker as set forth inclaim 12, in which the extension portion is formed with a substantiallyplanar first mounting surface and the connection portion is formed witha substantially planar second mounting surface, and in which the firstmember is formed with a substantially planar first connection surfaceand the second member is formed with a substantially planar secondconnection surface, the first mounting surface being electricallyconductively disposed against the first connection surface, and thesecond mounting surface being electrically conductively disposed againstthe second connection surface
 15. The circuit breaker as set forth inclaim 14, in which the first and second mounting surfaces arenon-parallel with one another,
 16. The circuit breaker as set forth inclaim 12, in which the first material is stainless steel and in whichthe second material is copper.
 17. The circuit breaker as set forth inclaim 12, in which the tang and the load terminal are fastened to oneanother with one of a bond and a fastener.
 18. The circuit breaker asset forth in Claim 12, in which the thermal trip mechanism includes abimetallic member.
 19. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 12, inwhich the load terminal is formed with a terminal connector hole, andthe tang is formed with a tang connector hole, the terminal connectorhole and the tang connector hole being axially aligned with one another.20. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 12, in which the tangextends less than fully along the extension portion of the loadterminal.